Gavin Newsom Attempts to Answer Tariff Question, Only Delivers Buzzwords, No Solutions [WATCH]

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared on Fox Business Network’s Kudlow Friday, where he was asked to explain how he would address U.S. trade imbalances and foreign tariff barriers if elected president.

The governor, widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, did not offer a direct answer, instead delivering a lengthy response centered on buzzwords and general praise for the Biden-Harris administration’s economic policies.

Newsom was questioned by host Larry Kudlow on how a hypothetical “President Newsom” would handle unfair foreign tariffs and restrictions on American exports.

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Rather than laying out a specific plan or addressing existing trade imbalances, Newsom responded with a vague statement focused on process.

“Look, I wouldn’t do it the way it’s being done,” Newsom said.

“Identifying a problem is one thing. Advancing solutions and strategies in a consistent and comprehensive way, step by step, is the preferred approach. The instincts to bring manufacturing back are spot on, absolutely right.”

The governor did not explain how his trade policy would differ from that of President Donald Trump or current efforts by the Biden-Harris administration.

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Instead, he launched into a defense of Biden’s industrial policies, including the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“I would argue that the Biden administration advanced them in a deeply meaningful way,” Newsom said.

“Talk about worker-centered industrial policy, the CHIPS and Science Act, the IRA, a framework of focus that I think was very populist.”

Newsom added that Joe Biden “walked the picket line” and “saved the pensions for the Teamsters,” describing the administration’s approach as more “consistent” and “rational,” though he did not outline how he would improve upon it.

When asked again about specific trade measures, Newsom continued to avoid committing to new policy proposals.

Instead, he encouraged the administration to continue on CHIPS and Science Act path.

“I’d rather see them double down on the CHIPS and Science Act,” he said.

“Tariffs can be used in targeted terms, but it’s hard. It’s hard work. This notion to arbitrarily, across the board, raise it here and emotionally raise it there, lower it emotionally, lower it here—this sends messages, mixed messages, to make investment almost impossible.”

The CHIPS and Science Act, signed into law by Joe Biden in August 2022, was designed to promote domestic semiconductor manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign supply chains.

The legislation included over $50 billion in federal subsidies and incentives for chip production projects across the country.

However, by March 2025, several projects funded under the CHIPS Act have faced significant delays and rising costs.

Intel’s $28 billion semiconductor facility in Ohio, initially expected to open in 2025, has now been pushed back to at least 2030 due to workforce shortages and logistical issues.

A report from the Peterson Institute for International Economics raised concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the program, noting that each job created under the initiative costs taxpayers approximately $185,000 annually—nearly double the average wage in the semiconductor sector.

In other public appearances, Newsom has continued to raise national political questions.

On a March episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, he said the Democratic Party brand had become “toxic” and accused his own party of talking down to voters.

Gavin Newsom says the ‘Democratic brand’ is ‘toxic right now’ and they’re not going to fix it by refusing to talk to Republicans and protesting

‘These guys are crushing us, the Democratic brand is toxic right now’ pic.twitter.com/h7KgS30n1f

— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) March 29, 2025

Despite committing billions of dollars to address California’s homelessness crisis, Newsom has blamed the problem on restrictive housing regulations rather than shortcomings in state-level governance.

Newsom has also weighed in on cultural issues, recently calling the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports “deeply unfair” during a podcast interview.

Earlier this year, he publicly criticized President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, a move that drew attention to increasing divisions within the Democratic Party’s national ranks.

While Newsom continues to maintain a high profile on national issues, his appearance on Kudlow added to questions about whether he has a clear and actionable economic agenda should he pursue a White House bid.

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